Celebrating the achievements of ten alumni, students and faculty, the
Cal State L.A. Alumni
Association hosted the 36th annual Alumni Awards Gala in October.
Through their professional and personal endeavors in the arts, business, heath
care, education, science and innovation, this year’s honorees have brought much
honor to themselves and the University.

We thank all of them for their great work and commitment to their communities and
Cal
State L.A.!

Widely recognized as being one of America’s leaders in the field, and a prominent
minority executive,
Richard Cordova has dedicated his life’s work to improving
health care access, delivery and quality. In his climb to the top as a hospital
administrator, he has not only been an innovator, but a role model and a leading
proponent of increasing diversity and representation throughout his profession.

Susan De Pietro ’71, University Service Award
Nurse, attorney, educator

With professional roots in nursing and law,
Susan De Pietro brings a unique
combination of skills and knowledge to both hospitals and academic settings.
Through leadership and administrative roles, she has helped develop legal
nursing practices, broaden community awareness and mold the future of the
industry, educating young nurses on law, ethics and decision-making in the
field. She is a part-time faculty member in the University’s School of Nursing
and served as the president of the CSULA Alumni Association for the 2009-10.

A recognized scholar in the area of child development and
family studies, Professor
Marlene Zepeda has completed extensive research on
Spanish speaking children and families, and early childhood education. Her
findings have contributed to the structuring of curriculum and training of
personnel in the field.

An educator and administrator for most of his career, James
Wilson Davis has worked to create the best learning opportunities for youth,
while also promoting a higher level of leadership in private and public sectors
through training and executive coaching.

In more than 30 years of service to Southern California
Edison, Stephen Pickett has been instrumental in resolving energy issues. He has
played an important role in projects involving nuclear work, anti-trust law and
utility holding companies.

Leading one of the top Catholic health systems in the
country, Deborah Protor has enhanced direct patient care, healthcare education,
administration and bio-ethics.

Noelia Rodriguez ’86, Distinguished Alumna
College of Business and Economics
Director, John F. Kennedy Forum, Institute of Politics, Harvard Kennedy School of Government

An accomplished executive with extensive experience in
strategic and crisis communications, media and public relations, and public
affairs and management, Noelia Rodriguez is a stakeholder and contributor on
what is happening nationally and internationally.

Jeffrey S. Silverman works at the forefront of the biotechnology and pharmaceutical
industry, assisting teams in creating technologies for blood products and
insulin delivery, and developing cancer treatments.

A creative duo,
Eric and Bill Teitelbaum
are recognizable
voices in comedy. The brothers draw the nationally syndicated business cartoon,
Bottomliners, have worked on internationally syndicated strips, trained artists
and designers, and done marketing and production for television shows and
materials.

The CSULA Alumni Mentoring Program

Mentor Alex Vargas ’91 and mentee Guadalupe Zambrano ’12 meet regularly to discuss her career goals in law enforcement. Vargas is a Sergeant 2 with the Los Angeles Police Department.

Build partnerships, develop your career and be inspired by fellow alumni and students
by participating in the Alumni Mentoring Program.

Through the thoughtful pairing of student and alumni mentees with alumni mentors,
participants create lasting professional relationships and further their career
goals, while also “giving back” to their alma mater. Since its inception in
2008, the program has successfully matched and engaged dozens of alumni leaders,
students and recent graduates.

Join us for the next Alumni Mentoring event on Wednesday, Nov. 17 at 6 p.m. in the
University-Student Union (Los Angeles C Room).

Mentor Corner

Paul Gomez ’88

Drawing upon more than 20 years of experience in public relations, including his current post in the Public Affairs Department for the City of Los Angeles Public Works, Paul Gomez Â88 mentors three alumni through the Alumni Mentoring Program. He is also a member of the Alumni Association Board of Directors, and membership and communications committee.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed passing on my knowledge and experience in the professional working world, while assisting my mentees with establishing strategies to reach their career goals. One of my mentees spent several months as an intern in our office, and another attended a networking event with me, so that I could teach her techniques involved with meeting business contacts.”